Red Rock, Nevada: An interesting spot and only 40 mins from Vegas!?

Red Rock Nevada was an interesting spot.  I arrived Friday night and only had Saturday to shoot.  I look forward in exploring different climbing spots, with more than a day to camp and climb.  The stars at night were competing with the spot light projecting from the top of Luxor casino on the far horizon of our campground.  The group had plans to celebrated Elliot's dirty 30 and  so we drove to Vegas Saturday night.  Red Rock campground was only 40 mins away from the Vegas strip.  So the next time you are on the strip of Vegas and have spent all your money on booze, gambling and strippers, visit  Red Rock campground it's a great place to find your sanity again.  A beautiful spot,  so close to all the sin!

Elliot Perucca

Aki finding his hold 

Aki

Elliot Perucca

Brian Branstetter coming to release me from shooting and hanging for over an hour.  Couldn't feel my feet anymore.

Paul Naka

Brian points out the problem 

I really enjoy the camaraderie that comes from the group through boulder climbing, it is so much fun!  And there is so much cheerleading and group support that pulls and pushes your limit to make the boulder problem happen.

Aki bringing the crash pad to another fun bouldering problem.  Outside of the main Red Rock National Park there is a number of fun bouldering problems to climb.  They are in the shade right after 3pm but it is worth it!

View from our sunset bouldering spot with beers at hand.

Thirty Years of Patagonia Catalog Photography

I am up and off to shoot/climb Red Rocks Nevada.  Wish my car could fly.  Here is a link for you to visit while I shoot more over the weekend.  Pick up your catalog today at your local store.

http://mistercrew.com/blog/2010/11/11/30-years-of-patagonia-catalog-photography/

J _ Tree set 2 Halloween weekend

dusting off the chalk

Chris prepping his artful tape job

Elliot wondering why???

Brian in his 80's climbing costume watching from the sidelines due to a injured neck

costume couple from our neighboring campers

Old Bunker Tower in Germany

We should turn more cement walls into climbing gyms.

Ode to the fathers of Rock climbing

Jack Frost the Pioneer short video please visit the link below

http://www.auroranovus.com/projects/project/tom-frost/25/v

Yvon Chouinard

 Yvon Chouinard—legendary climbing pioneer and founder of the clothing and gear company Patagonia.

In the late 1960s climbing was in its formative years, and its temple was Yosemite Valley. Royal Robbins and Yvon Chouinard were two of the best climbers in the world, and their ascent of the West Face of the Sentinel and El Capitan was challenged.  Along with being a climbing pioneer, Chouinard is among the most innovative and influential entrepreneurs in the outdoor industry. In its early incarnation, he developed a variety of climbing equipment under the company name Chouinard Equipment Ltd., selling it  out of the back of his van. When he learned of the damage his top-selling pitons wrought on the mountains, he shifted his production toward "clean climbing" equipment, revolutionizing the sport. In 1989, Chouinard Equipment Ltd. was acquired by its employees and reborn as Black Diamond Equipment. Black Diamond is currently one of The Alpinist Film Festival's sponsors.

Royal Robins 

A young Royal Robins

Royal Robins bottom in Yvon on top  

Royal Robbins a major developer of techniques for big walls such as El Capitan and Half Dome, invented the Yosemite Decimal System, still in use for grading climb difficulty, and helped set a standard of ethics for clean climbing, without pitons or fixed ropes.  Harding was first up El Capitan, but by the Spring of 1968, when he soloed the second ascent of Muir Wall, he had made either the first or second ascents of all of El Cap's major faces, as well as the first ascent of the Northwest face of Half Dome.    

Tear Sheet examples for Bishop Ca

For this coming weekend, I hope to have snow in my backdrops for round 3 of shooting.  I am looking forward in climbing and photographing in a new location.  Bishop is usually the place we stop for a quick lunch on the way to snowboard in Mammoth.    

J_ tree trip #1 shoot

Head Stone at Ryan campground:  Bob backpack is loaded with ice cold beers for a sunset delivery climb.  I'm glad I had a wide enough lens for this shot, and even more happy I was able to climb Head Stone at last.  The past few times I made it up here it was to windy for my liking.  Or there would be a line of people waiting behind me.  Now looking back I can't believe I didn't give it a shot earlier, especially knowing it was only a 5.6.

Brian Branstetter leads us the line

Brian finally gets a hold of tape

Figuring out the boulder problem called pig pen

Justin Bastien hands

Brian rappels down the back of Head stone

Zen and the art of archery

Reading synopsis update for week 5


Eugene Herrigel was a philosophy professor who lived and taught in Tokyo in the 1930's.  He was drawn to Zen   Buddhism through the medium of archery along side a Zen Master.  This book is also about Zen itself as well as the art of archery.  To pursuit the art of archery is not just of a sport, but to master self understanding.     The author describes the importance to breathe and relax,  something I practice often through my day.   The brain sends positive signals to strained muscles when the proper breathing is achieved.  This allows you to think less of technique, for the ideal goal.  Because eventually achieving  a "purposeless or egoless" state will allow the arrow to aim and shoot itself.    
To be continued...  

Malibu Creek....first attempt at climbing shots

Chalked hands of Justin Bastien

Justin Bastien makes his way through a cave at Malibu Creek

Nate

Brooke

Justin Bastien

Very happy for the nice warm 3 day weekend.  I was able to have a good first run at shooting some rock/boulder climbing at Malibu Creek around "Ghetto Wall".  The traverse over the water towards the back wall was a bit sketchy at first because of all the camera gear.  I can't wait to shoot more...!!!

8mm short movie of rock climbing/camping

http://vimeo.com/6478288

Tear sheet examples for term project

A favorite shot taken from the 70's book called  Stone Masters.










photo by Jim Bridewell

 I would like to  focus on beautiful black and white     tones for climbing images such as these. Showing the face,hands and dangerous looking point-of-view will be a strong point in my shooting.












photo by Dean Fidelman

photos below by Jim Thornburg









      

ACCD Photo Sports Class Projects:

Alyssa Lavine Photography

From Fashion to Sports

Having lived in 4 states by the time I was six-teen allowed me to see many forms of culture and contrast.  I remember being able to envision scenarios and imagery in my everyday even as a young girl.  I have always been intrigued by both beautiful and interesting locations, landscapes and it’s inhabitants.  Emotion, depth and small pops of color have to be a strong role in my fashion portrait frames.  Most of my strongest work is shot vertically, keeping my subjects tightly framed. I grew up collecting a wide range of fashion catalogues and magazines.  This has influenced the style, character and nostalgic images I choose today.

Regardless of how I’m framing, I love to shape with natural light and reflectors.  I keep my subjects creatively lit, underexpose my backgrounds, and tend to use a lot of eye contact and sex appeal.  My main inspiration comes from finding the inner emotion and character from within the subject in front of the lens.  I enjoy working with a small team of partners for assistance to juxtapose their talents with my views. 

  

My work is iconic, androgynies, dramatic, and eclectic. The key for all of this is to stay clear with my imagination and ideas while allowing the spontaneous moments to shine through with all that interests me.  This Sports project class will be a great way for me to incorporate my weekend hobby of rock climbing/ surfing into my photo portfolio.  I  look forward in showing my inner monkey through my eye of rock climbing and surfing.